Letters from an American – October 18, 2025

Host: Heather Cox Richardson
Episode Published: October 19, 2025

Overview

In this episode, Heather Cox Richardson narrates her insights on the widespread "No Kings" protests that occurred across the United States and around the world. The episode centers on the motivations behind these demonstrations, public response, and their significance in defending American democracy against what many see as authoritarian encroachment by the current administration.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Nationwide & Global Demonstrations

• Massive Turnout: Millions of Americans, along with allies globally, participated in the "No Kings" protests. The central theme uniting these gatherings was a show of commitment to American democracy and a firm stance against a president and administration perceived as threatening democratic norms.
  • “Today, millions of Americans and their allies turned out across the United States and around the globe to demonstrate their commitment to American democracy and their opposition to a president and an administration apparently bent on replacing that democracy with a dictatorship.” (00:03)
• Diversity & Spirit: Demonstrators represented all walks of life—waving American flags, donning whimsical costumes (frogs, unicorns, bananas), brandishing homemade signs calling for transparency and defending icons of freedom like Lady Liberty.
• Peaceful Nature: Despite official warnings and attempts to paint the protests as violent or extremist (notably by some political leaders and media), the events remained festive, positive, and nonviolent.
  • City police departments (NYC, San Diego, D.C.) reported no protest-related arrests.

Political Framing and Administration Response

• Efforts to Delegitimize: Administration loyalists and Texas Governor Greg Abbott attempted to recast the demonstrations as anti-American or violent, with Abbott deploying the National Guard and promising zero tolerance for unrest.
  • “Texas Governor Greg Abbott deployed the Texas National Guard ahead of the no Kings Day protests, warning that violence and destruction will never be tolerated in Texas.” (00:26)
• Reality Contradicts Rhetoric: The peaceful, patriotic, and good-natured spirit of the protests directly contradicted the official narrative. Protesters' actions—singing, laughing, taking selfies, and engaging civilly—highlighted the fundamentally American nature of public assembly and dissent.

Voices from the Protest

• Michael Mechanic’s Interview with Justin: In Oakland, Michael Mechanic (Mother Jones) interviewed a protester, Justin, who spoke to the emotional resonance of the event.
  • Justin (as quoted by Heather Cox Richardson):
    • “You know, a lot of times I have a hopeless feeling, but being out here today just reminds me about the beauty of America and American protests … No, this is the point of America right here to be able to have this opportunity to protest. This does not look like antifa Hamas, none of this stuff that they're talking about, you know, this is the beauty of America.” (01:10)
  • Key Insight: Justin’s words reflect the empowering and unifying effect of the protests, serving as a counter-narrative to divisive or despairing rhetoric.

Impact and Implications

• Strength in Numbers: From major cities drawing hundreds of thousands to small, Republican-dominated towns with smaller crowds, the protests conveyed broad-based and bipartisan opposition to authoritarian tendencies.
• Reframing Popularity: The episode notes that high turnout challenges the administration's claims to dominance and may force businesses and institutions to reconsider their alignment and policies.
  • “Such high turnout means businesses and institutions that thought they must cater to the administration to appeal to a majority of Americans will be forced to recalculate.” (02:22)
• Message to the World: At its core, the episode underscores that Americans remain deeply invested in defending democracy and that mass civic action remains a pivotal tool for change.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Heather Cox Richardson:
  • “Today, millions of Americans and their allies turned out across the United States and and around the globe to demonstrate their commitment to American democracy and their opposition to a president and an administration apparently bent on replacing democracy with a dictatorship.” (00:03/03:03 – repeated for emphasis)
• Justin (protester):
  • “This is the point of America right here … this is the beauty of America.” (01:28)
• On the peaceful, festive nature:
  • “They laughed and danced and took selfies and sang.” (00:50)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:03 – Opening remarks on the scale and spirit of the protests
• 00:26 – Administration and Texas response; attempts to delegitimize
• 00:50 – Description of protest atmospheres across the country
• 01:10–01:40 – Oakland protest interview: Justin’s perspective
• 02:22 – Implications for businesses, institutions, and the administration’s claims to popularity
• 03:03 – Recap and emphasis on Americans' defense of democracy

Conclusion

This episode encapsulates a pivotal moment in American civic life, with Heather Cox Richardson drawing clear historical parallels and underlining the enduring power of peaceful protest in safeguarding democracy. Through on-the-ground anecdotes and analysis, she highlights not just the numbers, but the meaning and hope behind the "No Kings" demonstrations.

For more historical context and detailed political analysis, visit heathercoxrichardson.substack.com.